By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
A WOMAN accused of murdering a web shop employee denied that the $14,000 found in her possession belonged to a web shop in Long Island, a Supreme Court jury heard on Friday.
Central Detective Unit oficer Lincoln McKenzie was giving evidence on his involvement in the investigation of the late 2014 slaying of Andrea Caroll in Deadman's Cay.
Cpl McKenzie said Daphne Knowles, a suspect, was asked "a series of questions" when interviewed under caution concerning her familiarity with Andrea Caroll.
"She stated that she worked for Caroll and fixed sandwiches for customers of the web shop," the jury heard. The investigator said Knowles denied knowing that Caroll kept large amounts of money in her possession.
Cpl McKenzie told prosecutor Basil Cumberbatch that Knowles was also probed on her relations with three men: Rico Archer, Stanley Pinder and Defavo Beckford.
She admitted to knowing Archer and said that Pinder was her boyfriend. The latter is her son.
When probed about the $14,000 found in her possession, the investigator said Knowles claimed "the monies came from her shop".
"She states that she had $7,000 for a (food) van, $7,000 for hair accessories and another $400 for other accessories," the court heard.
The investigator said he then probed Knowles on her whereabouts between 11.45pm and 8am on November 28 and 29, 2014.
"She stated that around 9-9.30pm, she went to a D-Mac concert but she didn't give a definitive answer on when she left. She stated that around 8am, she arrived home from sleeping with her boyfriend," McKenzie said.
Knowles, of Cartwright’s, Long Island, is on trial before Justice Bernard Turner on murder, robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery charges.
Knowles is alleged to have killed Carroll between November 28 and 29, 2014.
It is further alleged that Knowles conspired with others for 58 days to commit robbery and actually robbed Carroll of cash belonging to Bowe’s Web Games Ltd.
The accused, who denies the allegations, is defended by attorney Sonia Timothy. Cephia Pinder-Moss and Mr Cumberbatch are prosecuting the case.
Ms Timothy, in cross-examination, asked the investigator if her client told him where the monies had come from.
"She said it was from her shop, the backwood, chips, cigarettes," McKenzie said.
"So the money was to replenish her store?" the lawyer probed.
McKenzie did not confirm that those were the exact words used but admitted that he was informed that she had needed to go to Panama to shop.
He also admitted that he did not check her passport to verify that she made such travels in the past.
"I had no cause to check," was his explanation.
McKenzie was asked if there was any fingerprint or DNA evidence connecting her client to the scene of the crime. The investigator said there was no finger print evidence and he had not received any DNA evidence that he had requested.
The case resumes on May 26.
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